The master artisan, cultural practitioner and noted scholar will share his manaʻo about the upcoming makahiki season. He will unlock the complexity of makahiki, and illustrate how it pertains to modern times.

Kaʻai was born in Hāna, and raised in Kaupō, Wailuku and Waiehu. His artistic talents were evident from a young age, and he has created countless works throughout the years. Some of his most notable pieces include two kiʻi (images) that guided the first Hokule‘a sailing canoe in her epic voyage from O‘ahu to Tahiti in 1976. In 1978, ‘80 and ‘85, Ka‘ai sailed as a crewmember aboard the Hokule‘a.

In 2017, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs named Kaʻai as one of “Na Mamo o Ka Poʻe Hawaiʻi: Living Treasures of the Hawaiian People.”